The state Department of Health and Human Services will create a blood-testing program for people worried about their exposure to contaminated water at Pease Tradeport.Click to watch News 9's coverage.The plan comes 10 months after a well was shut down at the former air base.The Haven well was shut down in May after testing by the Air Force showed levels of an unregulated contaminant that were 10 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory. The substances are referred to as PFOs or PFCs and are believed to have come from fire retardant chemicals used when Pease was an Air Force base.The well is one of three that provides water to the tradeport."We have a concern that everybody that worked here may have been exposed at some point, but at what level, that's the question," said Russ Osgood, president of the Portsmouth Firefighters Union.Nearly 10,000 people work at the tradeport. Osgood said he's concerned for the 65 Portsmouth firefighters and retirees who have cycled through the station there."Firefighters in general have a higher risk for cancer," he said.Osgood said he wants blood tests to establish a baseline as more information about the chemical's potentially adverse effects emerge."I'd like to get a clear protocol," he said. "What's the next step? If they find elevated levels, what are they going to do with those levels? Is there going to be any follow-up in years to come?"A mother of two children who attend one of the day cares at Pease has led the charge for testing since May."My concerns are that my small children drank this water, and they're in a rapid state of development, being young, and I just want to know what that means for them in terms of negative health effects down the line," parent Andrea Amico said.She said she's reassured by the state's willingness to deal with the concerns."We are going to be offering this test and interviewing the people who want to be tested to see what the risk factors are, because when the results come, we want to be able to see who is having what results and based on that, derive the next stages of discussion, if any," Public Health Director Dr. Jose Montero said.Montero said about 120 people have signed up for the tests on the DHHS website so far. The department is also planning to hold a public meeting at Pease on Tuesday.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. —

The state Department of Health and Human Services will create a blood-testing program for people worried about their exposure to contaminated water at Pease Tradeport.

The plan comes 10 months after a well was shut down at the former air base.

The Haven well was shut down in May after testing by the Air Force showed levels of an unregulated contaminant that were 10 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory. The substances are referred to as PFOs or PFCs and are believed to have come from fire retardant chemicals used when Pease was an Air Force base.

The well is one of three that provides water to the tradeport.

"We have a concern that everybody that worked here may have been exposed at some point, but at what level, that's the question," said Russ Osgood, president of the Portsmouth Firefighters Union.

Nearly 10,000 people work at the tradeport. Osgood said he's concerned for the 65 Portsmouth firefighters and retirees who have cycled through the station there.

"Firefighters in general have a higher risk for cancer," he said.

Osgood said he wants blood tests to establish a baseline as more information about the chemical's potentially adverse effects emerge.

"I'd like to get a clear protocol," he said. "What's the next step? If they find elevated levels, what are they going to do with those levels? Is there going to be any follow-up in years to come?"

A mother of two children who attend one of the day cares at Pease has led the charge for testing since May.

"My concerns are that my small children drank this water, and they're in a rapid state of development, being young, and I just want to know what that means for them in terms of negative health effects down the line," parent Andrea Amico said.

She said she's reassured by the state's willingness to deal with the concerns.

"We are going to be offering this test and interviewing the people who want to be tested to see what the risk factors are, because when the results come, we want to be able to see who is having what results and based on that, derive the next stages of discussion, if any," Public Health Director Dr. Jose Montero said.

Montero said about 120 people have signed up for the tests on the DHHS website so far. The department is also planning to hold a public meeting at Pease on Tuesday.